April 30TH 2018 BLUEBELLS BACK TO WINNING WAYS

After three successive home defeats it was back to winning
ways for the Bluebells against bottom of the table Forfar West End, but, a game
that looked to be all over bar the shouting early in the second half, proved to
be nothing of the sort as the Angus men mounted a brave fightback.

Former Lochee player Jamie Montgomery had two efforts on
goal in the opening three minutes but both failed to trouble Mark Fotheringham
in the home goal.

And, 11 minutes in, Lochee took the lead. A Dougie Cameron
corner kick found Greg KIRK in the six-yard box who coolly knocked the ball
home.

The Thomson Park side were well in control and Scott
McComiskie was unlucky to see his overhead kick tipped over the bar by Forfar
keeper Daryl Burns.

The home side doubled their lead on 22 minutes. Kirk was causing
problems with his aerial ability in the visitors box and his header across goal
found Danny MILLAR at the back post and the defender’s header gave Burns no
chance.

There was a moment of controversy when Cameron’s quickly
taken free kick cannoned off West End striker Graeme Hart who was standing only
a yard away, but the referee allowed play to continue as Hart burst through on
goal. Fortunately for Lochee the big front man blazed his shot wide of the
target.

Kirk again won a header inside the Forfar box, this time
from a Logan Davie corner, but the third goal wouldn’t come.

There was another controversial moment 10 minutes before the
break when the ref decided that Grant Lawson’s tackle on Callum Petrie merited
a penalty kick, but, after consulting with his assistant, rightly changed his
decision and awarded a drop ball.

Lochee looked to have wrapped up the points 10 minutes into
the second half when Burns could only parry McComiskie’s shot and DAVIE followed
up to stab the ball into the net.

Four minutes later Forfar were right back in the game with
two goals in under two minutes. Firstly, West End manager Daryl McKENZIE rose
highest to a Marc Percy free kick to head the ball past Fonzy, then the keeper
failed to deal with a passback, hitting the ball off HART, leaving the striker
to roll it into the empty net.

So, a game that looked to be done and dusted now had Lochee
nerves on edge as West End sensed they might get something out of this game.

McComiskie almost increased Lochee’s lead with a curling
shot that just went wide of the left hand post.

There was a spate of bookings as the game became a bit more
tousy, Lochee’s Davie and Millar going into the book, along with former
Bluebell Montgomery.

Paul Lunan picked up a knock and was replaced by Paddy
Deane, who almost had an immediate impact. The striker combined with Bryan
Deasley to set up McComiskie for a shot that grazed the top of the bar.

On 70 minutes Reece Ritchie replaced Davie and this
substitution was to have a calming effect on the Bluebells as Ritchie put his
stamp on the game. In fact, he should have scored just three minutes after
coming on when he was put through by Deane, but he somehow sent his shot wide.

The Thomson Park side appeared to have weathered the storm
and Deasley had an effort well saved by Burns.

There was still time for Stephen McNally to pick up a yellow
card for a foul on Forfar’s Petrie, who had to replaced almost immediately.

At the other end McComiskie’s luck was out again as his shot
found the side netting. To complete his night he also found his way into the
ref’s book.

In the dying seconds the Angus side sent on Callum Walls for
Mark Ogg and they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out. Unfortunately for them
Robbie George sent his kick high and wide and their last chance of salvaging
anything from the game was gone.